Recognizing a child after birth

How does it work?

You can acknowledge your child if you are a man aged 16 or older. You can also acknowledge your child if you are a co-mother.

In addition, the following applies:

• Your child does not yet have a legal father.
• If your child has two parents, they can never be recognized by anyone else.
• If you are under guardianship, you need permission from the court.
• If you are prohibited from marrying the mother due to a blood relationship, you cannot acknowledge the child.
• You cannot acknowledge a deceased child.
• If you are the biological father, you cannot revoke the acknowledgment of paternity later.

What should I do?

You can acknowledge your child after birth in two ways:

• when registering a birth
• after registering the birth

Recognition at the time of birth registration

• You must register your child’s birth within 3 days. You cannot register the birth on a Saturday, Sunday, or a public holiday.
• You can do this at the city or town hall where your child was born.
• You can then immediately acknowledge your child.

If the mother is unable to come to the city hall with you, you will need her written consent to acknowledge your child.

Recognition after the birth registration

• You will go to the municipal office with the mother to acknowledge your child. This can be done at any municipal office in the Netherlands.
• If the child you wish to recognize is 12 years of age or older, you need written consent from both the mother and the child. If you do not receive consent from both of them, you can ask a judge for permission. This is only possible if you are the child’s biological parent.
• If the child you wish to acknowledge is 16 years of age or older, you should go to the municipal office together. The mother does not need to be present.

Make an appointment

Apply for parental authority

As of January 1, 2023, parental authority is automatically established upon acknowledgment of the child. This applies even if you are unmarried or do not have a registered partnership with the mother. Please note: there are a few exceptions.

What do I need?

If the child was not born in the municipality where you will be registering the paternity, please bring a copy of the birth certificate

If the mother comes along to city hall:

• your valid ID
• valid identification for the mother

If the mother does not go to city hall:

• your valid ID
• written consent from the mother
• the mother's signature on the written consent form
• copy of mother's valid ID

Additional requirements for the recognition of a child aged 12 to 16

• the child's written consent
• a copy of the child's valid ID

Additional requirements for the recognition of a child by a co-mother

• 's statement from the Foundation for Donor Data on Artificial Insemination (required only if the donor is anonymous)

How long does it take?

You will receive a copy of the certificate of recognition immediately.

Additional information

When registering your first child, you can choose which last name he or she will have when you file the birth certificate: the mother’s last name or yours. If you want your child to have your last name, the mother must accompany you to the municipal office. Written consent from the mother is not sufficient in this case.

If you do not choose a surname, the child will automatically take the mother’s surname. All subsequent children in the family will automatically receive the same surname as your first child.

It is also possible to give your child two surnames.